UofG Spotlight

Feb 19 2025 81 ep. 40 mins 58

UofG Spotlight Podcast artwork

A new podcast discussing public policy and the political process – at a local, national and international level – through a Scottish lens.

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Why is prevention so hard?

Feb 19 2025 37 mins

Today’s podcast focuses on a big question in public policy – why is prevention so hard? Can we spend money more wisely? Given the fiscal pressures on the system, prevention is now not just an option but a necessity to create sustainable public services. Policymakers know we should be tackling the root causes of issues, but systems, short-termism and complexity get in the way.

The Cost of Austerity

Feb 06 2025 31 mins

In today’s episode, we’re exploring the impact of austerity on life expectancy, population health and health inequalities across the UK. Since the early 2010s life expectancy stopped improving in the UK; in fact, for those living in the more disadvantaged areas, it actually declined. This means people have been dying younger and in larger numbers year on year. Dr David Wal

Trump 2.0: What's next?

Jan 23 2025 50 mins

In today’s episode, we’re discussing the big news of the week: the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Hosts Nicola and Kez speak to two experts in political philosophy and foreign policy to find out what the return of Trump means for the United States and the rest of the world. Dr Michael Frazer, Lecturer in Politics at the University of Glasgow gives a political philo

Delivering Mission-Led Government

Dec 04 2024 33 mins

This week Kez speaks to Sarah Davidson, Chief Executive of Carnegie UK, and Ian Elliott, Senior Lecturer in Public Administration at the Centre for Public Policy. We explore the Prime Minister’s new approach to government, drawing on a paper just published by Carnegie in collaboration with the Centre for Public Policy on Mission-Led Government. What does it mean in practice,

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

Nov 27 2024 36 mins

This week’s episode focuses on some of the vital work happening at the University of Glasgow in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and takes a look at some of the legal reforms passing through the Scottish Parliament on this issue. Prof Sara Carter, the University’s Gender Equality Champion, highlights the campaigns and events happening across campus to mark the 16 D

Poverty, Policy and the Budgets

Nov 14 2024 44 mins

This week Kez Dugdale reflects with guests on what the Budget means for families at the sharp end of poverty across the UK. She speaks to Chris Birt, Associate Director for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Morag Treanor, Professor of Social Policy and Inequality at the University of Glasgow. Graeme Roy also walks us through the Budget proce

US Election: The race to the White House

Oct 31 2024 42 mins

With the US Presidential Elections on 5 November 2024 rapidly approaching, we’re bringing you two University of Glasgow experts to unpack the election campaign so far. Hosts Professor Graeme Roy and Professor Nicola McEwen speak to Professor Christopher Carman, Stevenson Professor of Citizenship at the University of Glasgow, about the state of the race, the possible impacts

Alternative Economic Development Approaches

Oct 04 2024 25 mins

In this episode Prof. Graeme Roy and Dr David Waite, both Senior Fellows at the Centre for Public Policy discuss alternative economic development approaches such as Doughnut Economics and Community Wealth Building that seek to balance growth with social and environmental justice to create more inclusive and sustainable cities. They’re joined by Prof. Anne Green, City-REDI,

Ten Years on from Indy Ref, What Next?

Sep 17 2024 43 mins

In this episode Nicola McEwen speaks with Kezia Dugdale, former leader of Scottish Labour, and Stephen Noon former senior policy adviser for the first SNP Government, about their experiences of the referendum, the years that followed, and an upcoming report they’ve written for the Centre for Public Policy about what could be next for Scotland’s constitution. The report is desi

The Programme for Government

Sep 06 2024 38 mins

In this episode Professor Nicola McEwen and Professor Kezia Dugdale from the Centre for Public Policy speak to the Rt Hon. Ken Macintosh, former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, and Liz Lloyd, former Strategic Adviser and Chief of Staff to the First Minister of Scotland. They discuss the First Minister’s Programme for Government announcement, what it means about the